Guideline Development

AHTA plays three roles with respect to the development of clinical practice guidelines:

1. Selected staff act in an advisory capacity, on behalf of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to external developers preparing clinical practice guidelines using NHMRC methodologies and processes. To date this has involved consultancies on the development of:
   
   
   • Guidelines for the management of diabetic retinopathy (Diabetes Australia)
   • Best practice pathway for the management of acute and chronic whiplash-associated disorders (TRACsa)
   • Use of blood components (National Blood Authority
2. Staff conduct systematic literature reviews for the purposes of clinical practice guideline development. This involves working with a group of clinical experts to formulate clinical questions, search for the evidence to address those questions and synthesise the data to provide answers and guidance for health professionals.
   
   AHTA have developed, or is currently undertaking, clinical practice guidelines on:
   
   
   • The treatment of adults with acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, on behalf of the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health (ACPMH).
   • The use of recombinant and plasma-derived Factor VIII and Factor IX products, on behalf of the National Blood Authority (NBA).
   • The management of acute/subacute soft tissue injury to the low back, on behalf of TRACsa.
3. Individuals provide methodological guidance to the NHMRC to assist with the revision of standard approaches or processes of guideline development. This includes formulating a revision of the NHMRC evidence hierarchy and developing a system for grading recommendations.